Thousands of people have taken to the streets of Paris to protest against the French government's pension reform. The country's upper house has approved to extend the full-pension retirement age, from 65 to 67.

 

Crowds take to the streets of Paris on Tuesday in a show of defiance against the government of French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

This comes as Sarkozy pushes ahead with his plan to raise the age of retirement.

Union leaders vow they will force the French President to back down, and shelve his plans to add two years to the minimum retirement age.

Bernard Thibault, CGT Union Leader, said, "One thing is certain. We won't budge on this reform. We continue to say that we have increasingly large support with participation that is stronger than ever. There is no reason to give up on this fight."

The protest - the largest of some 200 taking place across the country - highlights the depth of discomfort the French feel about the plan.

But the government says the plan is vital to bail out one of Europe's most generous pension systems.

Official estimates are unavailable so far, but eyewitnesses say Tuesday's protest is one of the largest seen so far in this round of demonstrations.

France's Prime Minister has said he hears the voices of the demonstrators, but that his government will not budge.